Netgear GS724Tv4 Software Administration Manual - Page 98

GS716Tv3, GS724Tv4, and GS748Tv5 Smart Switches Spanning Tree Protocol The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) provides a tree topology for any arrangement of bridges. STP also provides one path between end stations on a network, eliminating loops. Spanning tree versions supported include Common STP, Multiple STP, and Rapid STP. Classic STP provides a single path between end stations, avoiding and eliminating loops. For information about configuring Common STP, see CST Port Configuration on page 101. Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) supports multiple instances of Spanning Tree to efficiently channel VLAN traffic over different interfaces. Each instance of the spanning tree behaves in the manner specified in IEEE 802.1w, Rapid Spanning Tree (RSTP), with slight modifications in the working but not the end effect (chief among the effects, is the rapid transitioning of the port to forwarding). The difference between the RSTP and the traditional STP (IEEE 802.1D) is the ability to configure and recognize full-duplex connectivity and ports that are connected to end stations, resulting in rapid transitioning of the port to forwarding state and the suppression of topology change notification. These features are represented by the parameters pointtopoint and edgeport. MSTP is compatible with both RSTP and STP. An MSTP bridge can be configured to behave entirely as a RSTP bridge or a STP bridge. Note: For two bridges to be in the same region, the force version should be 802.1s, and their configuration name, digest key, and revision level should match. For additional information about regions and their effect on network topology, refer to the IEEE 802.1Q standard. The Spanning Tree menu contains the links described in the following sections. • STP Configuration • CST Configuration • CST Port Configuration • CST Port Status • Rapid STP • MST Configuration • MST Port Configuration • STP Statistics Configuring Switching 98